Patent GB-643342-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for decorating ceramic ware and the like
IPC: B28B11/00
Filed: 1947-08-08
Abstract: <PICT:0643342/III/1> <PICT:0643342/III/2> <PICT:0643342/III/3> <PICT:0643342/III/4> An apparatus for decorating dish-like articles such as plates and saucers comprises a carriage reciprocable between a loading and unloading station and an applicator station, a spindle adapted to demountably carry a dish-like article being mounted on the carriage, and decorating means being disposed at the applicator station, means being provided for reciprocating the carriage in such a manner that the spindle is positioned at the loading and unloading station for a period of time sufficient to enable a decorated article to be removed from the spindle and an undecorated article to be mounted on the spindle, then to move the spindle to the applicator station and retain it there until the p  decorating means has decorated it and finally to move the spindle back to the first station to repeat the cycle, means also being provided to actuate the decorating means when the spindle is at the applicator station. Referring to the drawings, rigid frame 10 slidably supports carriage 20 carrying a plurality of rotatable ware-carrying spindles 50 and reciprocating between loading stations A and applicator stations B. The carriage 20 is reciprocated on rollers 23 and 24 (24 being angularly disposed to prevent transverse movement) by means of piston-rod 31 connected at one end to a cross-member 27 of the carriage and having the other end fixed to a piston in air cylinder 30.  Time shaft 40 carrying two cams 48 actuating two valves 35 controlling <PICT:0643342/III/5> <PICT:0643342/III/6> <PICT:0643342/III/7> <PICT:0643342/III/8> the air cylinder 30 rotates, thus opening eac valve in turn to push the piston from one end of the cylinder to the other and to allow a dwell at each end. Spindles 50 are rotated by means of continuously air-driven motors 56 at each applicator station, the driving wheels 57 engaging wheels 55, Fig 5, on the spindle, and intermittently rotated at each loading station by air-driven motors 58 with driving wheels 59 contacting wheels 55.  Motors 58 operate only when valves 63 controlling the air supply are opened by cams 66 mounted on continuously rotating shaft 65 and the cams are so arranged as to permit a dwell for unloading and reloading the ware.  The ware-holding means comprises a cup-member 83 with lip 84 mounted on the end of spindle shaft 51 of spindle 50.  A partial vacuum is maintained in bore 94 in shaft 51 by tube 52 connected to a partial vacuum source.  Fig. 20 shows the position of piston member 82 when no ware is on the cup-here boss 87 seals bore 94 from bore 86 of the cylinder member and ports 102 open bore 86 to the air.  When ware is pressed on to the cup spring 92 is overcome and piston 82 assumes the position shown in Fig. 21 in which the ports 102 are closed and bore 86 communicates with bore 94 via bore 88, flutes 100 and recess 101 so that a partial vacuum is formed, so holding the ware against lip 84.  The ware is centred on the chuck 80 by pressing foot member 119, so causing push-rod 118 to move member 112 upwards against spring 115 until the roller 113 contacts and centres the rotating ware.  The lining means comprises lining wheels 121 and 122 to apply two narrow lines to the ware and lining means 221 to apply a wider line. Lining wheels 121 and 122 dipping into coating material container 139 and wiped by pads are supported from arm 126 attached via band 125 to arms 124 and 123 and are urged towards the ware by spring containing arrangement 134, 135 and 138 and limited by stop 133. The wheels are moved to and from the ware by spring 149 which is controlled by rod 147 attached to <PICT:0643342/III/9> <PICT:0643342/III/10> <PICT:0643342/III/11> <PICT:0643342/III/12> arm 123 and worked by cam 148 on the shaft 65, this cam being so arranged that the wheels move away from the ware before it leaves the applicator station.  A similar arrangement operates wheel 221.  In a modification the wheels may be mounted for pivotal adjustment also along an axis at right angles to the axis of the wheels.  One or both of the applicator wheels 121, 122 and 221 may be replaced by apparatus for applying a band to the edges of the ware.  This apparatus (figs. 33 and 34) comprises a tank 415 with needle valve 416 raised and lowered through levers 421 and 422 operated from shaft 405 by cam 423 to release coating material to roller 413 and thence to roller 414.  Rotation of shaft 65, Fig. 30, operates cam 448, lever 447, rods 440 and 442 so turning shaft 429, Fig. 33. This causes shafts 425 to incline downwardly (Fig. 32) while contact of rollers 431 on these shafts with cams 432 inclines shafts 425 towards each other so as to cant applicator rollers 424 into position to contact the edges of the ware.  These rollers 424 are normally held in contact with roller 414 from which they receive coating material.